gentlemanlikely

English

Etymology

From gentlemanlike +‎ -ly.

Adverb

gentlemanlikely (comparative more gentlemanlikely, superlative most gentlemanlikely)

1. In a gentlemanlike manner.
   • 1810 February 17, Canning, letter to his wife; quoted in A. Aspinall, editor, The Later Correspondence of George III, volume V, Cambridge: at the University Press, 1970, →ISBN, page 516:

     But lo! at twelve o’clock, or thereabouts, after Windham had spoken against the pension, tho’ very gentlemanlikely, and nobody (as I thought) had spoken well for it—what should I do but get up and make such a speech as quite surprized my own self, and seemed to carry the whole House with it?

   • 1835, Adolphus Wagner, “Introduction”, in The Works of Robert Burns, with Selected Notes of Allan Cunningham, a Biographical and Critical Introduction, and a Comparative Etymological Glossary to the Poet, Leipsic: […] Frederick Fleischer, page XXVIII:

     And thus we hope and trust to find, no thank indeed, but excuse or silent, perhaps even gentlemanlikely smiling indifference or contempt, much more tolerable and desirable, however, than the unjudicious chitchat of dullness and ignorance alas too obvious in this sphere.

   • 1884, Il Vero Blasone, page 103:

     I would like to discharge myself of it gentlemanlikely

   • 1898 April 23, G. B. S., “The Drama Purified”, in The Saturday Review, volume 85, number 2217, page 554:

     It does not prevent the exhibition at the St. James’s Theatre of sensational sexuality, brutality, drunkenness, and murder; but it takes care that all these things shall end happily, charmingly, respectably, prettily, lady-and-gentlemanlikely for all parties concerned.

   • 1947, John Morris, The Phoenix Cup: Some Notes on Japan in 1946, London: The Cresset Press, page 145:

     Nevertheless, your people who grown up in the natured social surroundings had treated us gentlemanlikely regarding our individual rights enough, though wondering of our ferocity.

   • 1988, H. A. C. Collingham, edited by R. S. Alexander, The July Monarchy: A Political History of France, 1830–1848, London, New York, N.Y.: Longman, →ISBN, page 321:

     Aberdeen was forced to demand reparation, and Guizot, ever ready to sacrifice the appearance to the reality and who realised that Pritchard, who had been imprisoned for six days, should have been treated “more gentlemanlikely”, was prepared to make them.

Synonyms

• gentlemanly